In this episode of Mormonish Podcast, we take a closer look at the dramatic changes unfolding at Temple Square and ask: Are we watching the leaked “Jesus Land” plans come to life? The Church’s newly announced Temple Square experiences place an unmistakable emphasis on Jesus Christ, while redesigned spaces and exhibits are intended to make Temple Square easier for visitors to navigate and to better explain what happens inside Latter-day Saint temples. Church leaders themselves have described Jesus Christ as the central focus of the new visitor experience. We’re joined by Ron Yorgason and Unoriginal Jim to revisit the previously leaked Temple Square master plans and compare their vision with what is actually happening today. How closely do the new exhibits, visitor experiences, and Christ-centered messaging follow that earlier blueprint? And what might these changes tell us about the direction the Church wants Temple Square—and its public identity—to take? The similarities are fascinating, and there’s a lot to unpack!

What does a Utah craft beer have to do with the LDS Church’s lawsuit against Mormon Stories? More than you might think. In this episode, we revisit a previous Mormonish Podcast story about Bewilder Brewing and its Deseret IPA. The brewery was challenged by the LDS church over its use of the name “Deseret,” with trademark concerns ultimately leading to the beer being discontinued. Now, with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints suing Mormon Stories Podcast and John Dehlin, we’re taking another look at the Deseret IPA dispute through a new lens. The Church says its Mormon Stories lawsuit is about preventing consumer or brand confusion—arguing that elements of Mormon Stories’ branding could lead people to believe the podcast is associated with or endorsed by the Church. Sound familiar? Revisiting what happened to Deseret IPA asks the bigger question: How plausible is “brand confusion” in either case? Could consumers really mistake a craft IPA for a Church product—or Mormon Stories for an official Church podcast? And what do these cases tell us about how aggressively the Church protects its intellectual property and brand? Join us as we revisit Deseret IPA and leave you to consider the striking parallels with the battle now unfolding over Mormon Stories.

A recent Church News article highlighted 25 years of LDS Church membership growth across the United States—but what do those numbers really tell us? In this episode, we’re joined by Ron Yorgason to dig beneath the headline percentages and take a closer look at the statistics. Which states are actually growing, what factors are driving those numbers, and does reported membership growth necessarily mean more active Latter-day Saints? We break down the data to uncover the real story behind 25 years of LDS growth.